Laamafaru Fest 2021 Takes Place On A Very Successful Note, Inspiring The Whole Country
Thursday 9th of December 2021
The Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI), situated at Six Senses Laamu, is a multi-award-winning marine conservation initiative. Six Senses Laamu is a world-renowned, five-star, tropical resort in the southern Laamu Atoll that is located in a Mission Blue Hope Spot.
MUI is made up of resort employees as well as representatives from the resort's three partner NGOs: The Manta Trust, Blue Marine Foundation, and The Olive Ridley Project, all of whom collaborate to achieve research, guest education, and community outreach objectives.
Since 2016, MUI has been carrying out an annual festival in Laamu Atoll, dedicated to educating and spreading awareness in the community for marine conservation.
The first festival, five years ago, was held under the theme ‘Turtles in Laamu – Safe & Protected’.
As the years went on, MUI recognized the growing need to create awareness about the conservation of complete marine ecosystems, as well as the services they provide, in order to protect the Maldives from the detrimental consequences of climate change and unsustainable activities.
As a result, the resort and local stakeholders opted in 2019 to change the name of the 4th annual festival to Laamafaru Festival, or "Laamu's Reefs Festival," with the theme "Our Ocean — Safe and Protected."
This year, with local travel restrictions still in place, eight separate Laamafaru Festivals took place simultaneously on different islands around Laamu Atoll.
By running sperate festivals every student, teacher and parent in each school had the opportunity to participate in the festivals, therefore the celebrations reached thousands of community members- more than ever before.
The festival's atmosphere exemplified why Laamu was designated as a Mission Blue Hope Spot last month. The worldwide non-profit group Mission Blue, in examining Six Senses Laamu's application for the Hope Spot, highlighted not just the atoll's importance for marine life, but also the importance of its community's commitment for safeguarding their natural resources.
The festival's educational programs focused on marine protected areas, which is a topical discussion given by the Maldivian government's plans to declare multiple marine protected areas in the atoll in the coming weeks. Speeches, discussions, and performances by students, teachers, principals, and local fishermen were among the events.
Sand sculptures, plastic up-cycling, and poster making were among the competitions in which the kids competed. Many schools also organized clean-ups in which students and community members gathered rubbish on local beaches and harbors, so benefiting their local surroundings while also learning about the Maldives' enormous waste management issue.
What an impressive initiative by MUI, and an inspiring & successful Fest carried out by the local community!